Tarxien Rainbows start favourites to beat struggling Naxxar Lions this afternoon.
In midweek, the Rainbows bounced back from their derby defeat to Hibs with a comfortable victory over Żebbuġ in the FA Trophy.
Jacques Scerri, the Tarxien coach, has almost a full squad available with the only absentees being defender Ebiabowei Baker, suspended, and defender Matthew Tabone, injured.
The Lions had little to smile about lately as three successive league defeats, coupled with elimination from the FA Trophy at the hands of Lija, have ramped up the pressure on Clive Mizzi and his players.
This afternoon, Mizzi will not be able to lead his team from the bench as he must serve a one-match ban along with club captain Angus Buhagiar and midfielder Daren Falzon.
First round: Naxxar Lions vs Tarxien Rainbows 0-5.
Haber, Temile miss out for Stripes
Birkirkara have their eyes on ending the year in winning form by beating Mosta. The Stripes’ response to the dismissal of coach Giovanni Tedesco was a convincing 3-0 victory over Pembroke. Another win today will enable Birkirkara to gain some ground on joint leaders Valletta and Hibernians who face each other tomorrow.
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Josef Mansueto will again be in charge of the team as the Stripes seek to appoint a new foreign coach by the New Year.
Goalkeeper Justin Haber is out with a finger injury while striker Frank Temile (picture) must serve a one-match ban.
Mosta will be no pushovers as time and again this season the Blues produced the goods against the big guns.
They’re still without goalkeeper Omar Borg who completes a two-match ban but forward Edin Murga returns to face his former team.
Ryan Grech, Dyson Falzon and Ice-Cream Guobadia are ruled out by injury.
First round: Mosta vs Birkirkara 1-1.
Oliveira warns against complacency
Floriana should make it three wins in a row by beating bottom-placed St Andrew’s.
The Greens should find little difficult in overcoming a side that have lost all their league matches so far. However, coach Luis Oliveira is warning his players against complacency.
“In football there are no easy matches and we must keep our concentration levels high to finish the year with another victory,” he said.
Oliveira has no selection problems but he will check on the condition of regular goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona who returned to training this week after recovering from a facial injury.
St Andrew’s picked their first win of the campaign in midweek when they beat Swieqi 4-2 in the FA Trophy. Coach Jose Borg is without Michael Johnson, suspended, and Nick Ghio is out with a thigh injury.
First round: St Andrew’s vs Floriana 2-3.
Balzan with no room for error
Balzan have little room for error against Pembroke after back-to-back defeats damaged their title aspirations.
Upsets to Tarxien (3-0) and Valletta (2-1) saw Balzan slump to eight points behind the leading duo so against Pembroke it is a must-win scenario to put them back in the reckoning.
Coach Oliver Spiteri will be without goalkeeper Valerio Senatore, who was unwell all week, but Steve Bezzina returns from injury.
Pembroke, too, are in need of points as they look to distance themselves from the relegation zone.
Coach Winston Muscat is still without Leighton Grech (groin) but otherwise has a full squad available.
First round: Pembroke vs Balzan 1-5.
Pedrinho’s future in doubt
Sliema Wanderers have a perfect opportunity to distance themselves from the bottom places when they face Qormi tomorrow.
The Blues have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks as a 2-0 win over Pembroke and a gutsy 1-1 draw against Mosta pushed them clear of the relegation zone.
Sliema welcome back defenders Stefano Bianciardi and Benjamin Essel but John Mintoff is out with ankle trouble. Meanwhile, striker Pedrinho is unlikely to be involved as the Blues are considering whether to retain the services of the Brazilian.
Qormi recorded back-to-back wins this week against St Andrew’s and Għajnsielem in the FA Trophy. So, they will be keen to keep the momentum going even if they will be without Emerson Vella.
First round: Sliema Wanderers vs Qormi 0-0.